New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-23
generally obey their chiefs but they are unlikely to

generally obey their chiefs but they are unlikely 10
| originate demand for reform themselves
Notwithstanding the difficulties Ia the way
General Wilson thinks there is ground ior hope
that China may be induced 70 fall into hne Win
Western civilization. @The Emperor" he says, Is
allpowerful when he chooses to assert himself
lie can control the official class By simple exer-
else of tho will and the official class can contro
the naomi. almost as easily. The inaccessibiiy OF
| the one aud the small number OF tho other' are
circumstances which encourage the observer 10 De-
lieve that the mover ent when once determined can
be m ain tanned until it is entirely successful Ana
in answer to the question: Are the Chinese going 10
build railroads. open mines and erect furnaces ana
rolling mills he says-"Yss-whenever they can
be shown that this can be done with their own
money obtained, at first, by private subscription
and by their own labor, under the direction OF
foreign experts, who Will build them fairly and
honestly" At present, however, they Will not
borrow IN oney on the credit OF their Government or
on pledge of its for the urpose OF paying
for such work. will they grant concessions or
subsidies to foreigners So far as can sec they
will not even take money from any Power or syndl-
ate and agree to secure the repayment OF the same
by mortga upon the works 10 bc erected there
by" The Chinese statesmen have wholesome
dread of becoming indebted either to the Govern
ment people of any foreign country, arguing that
excuse to a strong and aggressive power for In
reference with their liberties.
General Wilson realizes the increasing dangers
to which China is exposed through the ambition
and expansive policy OF Russia and England. On
this subject he observes: The movement of Russia
Into the vast region between the Aral Sea and the
lssyk-Kul, near the western border OF Ihlbet, the
capture and annexation of Khiva, Tashkend Merv,
Samarcand Khokand and Bokhara, and the bull ling
of railroad from the Caspian Sea. In the
eral direction, has been looked upon by England
as a special menace to Herat and her Indian
Empire and it certainly Is menace OF the most
por .enteus character But 1T should NOT be for
gotten by England, and still less by China, that
Russia has for two hundred years held all of
northern ASIA from the Ural Mountains to the
Pacific Ocean that her eastern possessions in that
almost illimitable legion are contern nous with
those Of China; that she has been for the last
century engaged in subugatng the wild tribes and
anting civilized colonies; that of late yeals her
settlements in the Auur Valley have been wing
with amazing rapdty; and, finally, that it cannot
be great while in the worlds time till they are
connected with Europe by railroad or railroads,
which will bring all the resources of the empire for
conquest TO the very gates of China" 1t is not APP
parent how China could check, much moro prevent,
this movement, even if she willing to throw
herself forthwith into the current of modern
progress
There is however, a consideration upon which
General Wilson has touched but lightly. yet which
may be a more influential factor ia the situation
than he appears to think probable There is in
China a feeling scarcely ineligible to foreigners.
As a rule they set it down 10 insular conCeit and
stupid conservatism, but it Is not 10 be so ex
planea This is the feeling that Western progress
and civilization are not worth the price which
must be paid for them. Tho Chinese not pre-
pared TO admit that the rush and strain of Western
life otter the best existence can give. They even
dispute the assertion that Western civilization is
enormous advance upon their own condition.
OF course IL is clear tiat they from a plane
of their own, and one which tho West repCdates
But they say that the increase OF commerce, the
expansion of popular ants the complication Of life
In MANI ways, is not TO be desired may, Is not
to be regarded in the line of growth. They
maintain that man il happy. not in proportion to
the multitude of his des res but In proportion 10
TIA fewness of them; AMI that consequently moth |
Ing be gained bat teverish unrest, disappoint
ment and trouble, by adopting Western theories Of
progress 1t may be much harder to overcome this |
kind of reasoning than the opposition which is due
TO conservatism alone General Wilson, however, |
sees reason to hope, and he urges the American
Government TO cultivate closer relations with
China with a view to commercial results. He has
written important and most interesting and |
reelected uron.